Practical Nursing at Daytona State College

Daytona Beach, FL · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

serving 9,367 students in Daytona Beach, FL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,712 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 154.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $10,500 in median debt against $45,712 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #62 of 703 programs, Daytona State College's Practical Nursing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Practical Nursing, including Nurse, Licensed Practical (median $62,340/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

82 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
82
Score
83
High End
Earnings $45,712/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$46K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
154.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,106
Out-of-state: $11,994
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,987
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Practical Nursing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses $62,340 +2.6% 75%
Nursing assistants $39,530 +2.3% 90%
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
$62,340
+2.6% growth 75% AI-proof
Nursing assistants
$39,530
+2.3% growth 90% AI-proof

About Practical Nursing Careers

Your career begins on the front lines of patient care as a nursing assistant. In a hospital or long-term care facility, your active days will be spent helping patients with essential tasks like bathing, eating, and moving safely. You’ll be a vital part of the medical team, taking blood pressure and temperature and serving as the eyes and ears for the supervising nurses.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Daytona State College?
A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Daytona State College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Daytona State College?
At $10,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Daytona State College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Practical Nursing career paths, including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →